Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Swimsuits Optional
I grab my shoes and look back at Roman, he hasn't moved since I escaped his grasp. One arm under his pillow the other under mine, sheet covers him from the waist down. I walk back to the bed quietly and pushing his hair back, I place a kiss on his forehead. Roman smiles in his sleep, still not moving. I tiptoe to the door, I look back at him once more, he looks so peaceful.
"Sneaking out?" chuckles Christian.
"No!!!" I say as I put my shoes on.
"I am bringing "The Thorn" down, come up and replace me!" he says into his wrist.
"The Thorn?"
"The Rose and The Thorn, your code names!" he chuckles again, I roll my eyes and smile back at him.
Twenty minutes later, Marco is opening the gate for us. Christian helps me gather my bags from the trunk and than hands me a white bag.
"This is your birthday present. He asked Gabby for your address, he was going to mail it but then you are here. Then he felt weird giving it to you because of where tonight led!" he smiles.
I peeked in the bag and saw the light yellow-brown box with a neat dark blue ribbon. There is only one reason that store hands you a white bag, whatever is inside is expensive.
"Text him tomorrow!"
"I will. Thank you Christian!"
He closes the trunk stopping in his tracks. "What did you say to improve his mood today?"
Before my laugh bubbles up, I see smoke at the corner of my eye. It's Ivan smoking by the front door, it's like his signature move. I take a step closer to Christian. "It's not what I said but what I did!"
"I don't want to know." he shakes his head at me. "It's been a long four years full of fake smiles. It's not my place but it's good to see the two of you together!"
I know exactly what he means, Roman and I, we make sense. We should be together but I don't know if I want to live a life that has been mapped out for him. Christian slides back in the car and leaves my sight quickly. My feet are done, I am done wearing heels, it's been a long day. Walking up the stairs I look at Ivan, he puts his cigarette out on his hand and stuffs it in his pocket. He is going to set himself on fire one of these days, I swear.
"Did you have a fun day with Prince Charming?" I can hear the jealousy in his deep voice.
"Why yes, yes I did. Roman is amazing!" I smile at him but his face is anything but friendly. His scowl does not scare me, I know who he is inside.
"Want to join us for a late night swim?"
I don't bother to ask who "us" is, I nod at Ivan approvingly and head upstairs to change. It does not take me long to put on my bikini, thank my lucky stars I brought one with me. I take the white bag and pull out the neatly tied up box. I undo the bow and open the box slowly, it's a purse. Opening the dust bag I take the dainty hot pink purse out. It's so adorable and holy shit, this thing costs more that my apartment. I carefully put it back in the bag and then the box.
By the time I make my way downstairs the music is on and there is way more chatter than ten boys. Stepping outside I lose my breath, my eyes dart around quickly. Ivan, Dimitri and the rest of their brothers are all naked. Ivan did not tell me they are skinny dipping, there is no dipping happening, they are all standing around drinking talking to girls. Ten guys, ten girls, I am the odd one out. Then I notice the other thing they all have in common, they are all hung. I start to turn, I am going to take off back upstairs and stay in the room. What if Dimitri wants to bring a girl to the room, maybe I should find another room to sleep in tonight. My thoughts occupy me for too long and I get spotted.
"There she is!!!" beams Arno, his dreads are loose over his shoulders.
There is no turning back now, everyone has turned to look at me. These girls are stunning, tall and thin. I am not that short, 5'7 is not that short, right? I can't help but compare myself. It's not a competition, every woman is beautiful in her own way but still it eats at me. I am more curvy and athletic than these girls. Deep down I never feel like enough. Most days I think if I was born a boy I wouldn't have these thoughts, my father would actually love me. God damn my daddy issues, I plaster a smile on my face and step outside.
"It's cold out here, isn't it?" I say projecting my voice with confidence I don't actually have.
Every single one of them looks down, I suppress my giggle.
"No one told me swimwear is optional." I announce as I set my phone down next to a lounge chair with a folded towel. I untie my top and drop it down, everyone but Ivan is watching me. I go to pull down my bottoms and Illia Jr stops me.
"That's enough nudity for you. Keep those on!"
I cock my head to the side."Shut up Illia!" says Ivan still not looking at me.
They argue in hushed tones I can't make out. I keep my bottoms on and take a seat by the pool dipping my feet in. I let the cool water soothe me. Every muscle in my legs is sore, I lean back and look up at the stars. It's not cold out here, there are multiple heaters surrounding us, every umbrella is open revealing dim lights under it. I watch Dimitri grab a beer and make his way toward me.
"No thanks! Unless you want me to snore all night!" I say to him as he tries to hand me the beer. Dimitri laughs, taking a seat next me drinking the beer. "I am sorry was that presumptuous of me, are you spending the night with one of these?"
He laughs again. "God no. Sal will end up with more than one of them. They are not my type anyway!" he smiles at me.
“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow. “And what is your type?”
I already know the answer. It’s in the way he’s looking at me.
I take his beer and sip it anyway.
Something shifts in his expression. Slowly, he leans closer, the back of his hand brushing lightly along the side of my chest. My breath catches as his fingers trail, slow and deliberate. My nipples pebble harder than they already were.
"I am boob guy!" he whispers and then pulls away fast taking his hand and heat with him.
Across the pool, Ivan is watching us.
And suddenly, the night doesn’t feel so simple anymore.